Romance publishing trends for 2026 point to growing attention for romantasy, sports romance, dark romance, science-fiction romance, audiobooks, and crossover books. In 2025, U.S. romantasy and sports romance each saw triple-digit growth among romance subjects, reports Circana.
Most clear evidence of growth describes 2025, not a full-year forecast for 2026. Romance made up about 9% of Canadian book sales in Q1 2026 even as unit sales generally fell, according to BookNet Canada. Treat these trends as clues as you hunt for your next swoon-worthy binge-read, and look for new formats and free or low-cost ways to read.
The clearest signals shaping romance publishing in 2026 are romantasy, sports romance, dark romance, science-fiction romance, audiobooks, and crossover publishing. Together, they offer clues about changing reader interests and more ways for you to find romance stories.
In the United States, romance print sales were up 24% year to date in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, with 51 million units sold in the 12 months covered.
Market patterns also vary by country and format. In Canadian category reporting, Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas led Dark Romance titles, while Silver Elite by Dani Francis led Romance / Science Fiction. Print sales, audiobook activity, and subject categories each offer a different view of what’s catching readers’ attention.
As you build your reading list, watch which stories publishers spotlight and which formats they release. A steamy new romance might be available as a print book, ebook, or audiobook, giving you more ways to find a swoon-worthy read that fits your budget.
Romantasy and sports romance are catching readers’ attention because both recorded triple-digit growth among U.S. romance subjects in 2025, according to Circana’s reported subject trends. That growth points to rising visibility, but it doesn’t guarantee that every title in either category will sell well.
Rebecca Yarros’s Onyx Storm Wing and Claw edition sold 1,699,963 U.S. print copies in 2025. That figure covers one edition, not the romantasy category as a whole: Circana BookScan does not have a romantasy category.
Genre-blending brings a love story together with another kind of setting, giving you more ways to find a swoon-worthy read. Romantasy pairs romance with fantasy, while sports romance sets relationships in the world of sports. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is one example of the latter. These combinations can make for a fresh binge-read, whether you love magic and adventure or the excitement of competition. A library copy or low-cost edition can also help you try a new blend without spending much.
Dark romance and science-fiction romance show sharp Canadian growth. Canadian books assigned the Dark Romance BISAC code grew by more than 100,000% in 2025, with Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas the category’s top seller. Canadian Romance / Science Fiction sales rose 236% that year, led by Silver Elite by Dani Francis. Canada’s wider quarterly results add useful context: romance accounted for about 9% of total book sales in Q1 2026 even though romance unit sales were generally down. A standout subcategory can grow even as sales across romance overall soften.
Yes, audiobooks are changing romance publishing by expanding the listening catalog and giving you another way to discover new love stories. U.S. audiobook sales revenue reached $2.43 billion in 2025, up 9% from 2024. Publishers reported more than 750,000 active audiobook titles, a 43% increase year over year.
Romance was among the top audiobook genres by revenue in 2025, alongside science fiction/fantasy and mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. That means you’ll find swoon-worthy romance among the genres available in audio, though not every book is released in that format.
Audio First publication revenue rose from $91.1 million in 2024 to $136 million in 2025, representing 6% of audiobook net revenue. When a promising new romance catches your eye, check whether it’s available in audio as well as print or ebook. Formats vary by title, so your next binge-read may not be available in every edition.
Publishers are expanding romance lists with crossover imprints and more detailed subject codes, giving you extra clues about the kinds of stories being published. Penguin Random House plans to launch Berkley XO, a New Adult Crossover imprint, in fall 2026. Its first three books will include contemporary romance and romantasy. New Adult Crossover is a publishing label for books intended to reach readers across age-category boundaries. HarperCollins’ MoonFire is set to begin publishing romantasy in 2027, with around 12 novels per year. Its planned list offers another way to explore romance blended with fantasy, alongside Berkley XO’s approach to reaching readers across age categories. Publishers can also identify romance books with more specific BISAC subject codes. The 2025 BISAC Subject Heading List added romance categories for Asian American and Pacific Islander, disability, and neurodiversity, along with seasonal categories for winter, spring, summer, and autumn. More detailed labels can make a wider range of stories easier to find in publishing and catalog records. They don’t guarantee how a retailer will sort or display a book, but they give the industry more ways to describe romance titles.
Treat trend reports as clues, not shopping instructions or promises, and use them to spot releases you might enjoy. Watch for new titles that pair love stories with fantasy, sports, science fiction, or darker themes, and check whether audiobook editions appear alongside print and ebooks.
To explore new releases without stretching your budget, check library catalogs, ebook-lending options, and discounted editions where available. Trend reports might point you toward an unexpected, swoon-worthy binge-read, but your personal taste decides what belongs on your list.
Choose one detail you’d like in your next romance: an Asian American or Pacific Islander lead, disability representation, neurodivergent characters, or a seasonal setting. Search for that phrase with “romance” in a library catalog, then check each book’s description and subject labels before borrowing it or placing a hold.
The 2025 list added romance categories for those interests, including winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The labels can help narrow a broad search, but they can’t tell you whether a book’s voice or heat level is right for you.
When a title catches your eye, read a sample before buying, then compare the library’s print, ebook, and audio listings for that exact book. To keep your discovery cheap, check for a library loan before choosing a paid edition. Availability varies by title and format. If the sample clicks, add the book to your queue. If it doesn’t, keep searching for your next swoon-worthy match.